Pelt stretcher



P. F. F i-SH BECK FELT STRETCHER Filed Oct. 18, 1943 J m j I N VEN TOR w A TYJORNEY.

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FIGZ BY Nov. 7,

O 0 g 0 G O O O QmQHO Q Patented Nov. 7, 1944 UNITED STATES P E OFFICE PELT STRETCHER Philip F. Fishbeck, near Denver, Colo. Application October 18, 1943, Serial No. 506,771

5 Claims.

. This invention has to do with the initial preparation and conditioning of raw animal pelts and skins for ultimate marketing, and has as an object to provide convenient and efilcient means for stretching and supporting rawpelts during drying and curing thereof. A v

further object of the invention is to provide improved means quickly and conveniently insert able and extensible within a pelt to smoothly extend said pelt andhold itfin stretched condition during drying and curing.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement of mean for thecirculation of air Within and about a stretched pelt. Afurthe'r object of the invention is to provide improved means in a pelt stretcher operable to quickly and positively extend and retract the stretcher relative to a pelt.v i A further object of the invention is to provide animproved pelt stretcher that is simple and inexpensive of manufacture in such sizes as may be best adapted ior use with pelts from specificanimals, which i compact, light in weight, and readily transportablawhich requires no tools or special appliances for itsuse and operation, and which is highly efficient in the accomplishment of theends desired. I k

My invention consists in the constructionyarrangement, and combination ofelements hereinafter'described, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in w h. l Figure 1 is an elevation of, the improved stretcheras retracted for insertion within a pelt. Figure2 is a view similarto Figure 1 illustrating the stretcher as laterallyextended orexpanded for stretching of a pelt, certain surface portions being broken away to disclose otherwise concealed construction. Figure 3 is an edge view, partly in section, taken on the indicated line 3-3 of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a cross sectionjtaken on the indicated lined-4 of Figure 1. Figure 5 is a cross section taken on the indicated line 55 of Figural, Figure 6 is a cross section, taken on the indicated line' 6-6 of Figure 1. fragmentary, detail elevation, partly in section and with certain portions'broken' away to conserve space, of the stretcher-expanding member employed inthe improvement. I .In the construction of the improved 'as. shown,the numerals Hl'and H designate substantially identical, complementary board elements, preferably formed of wood or equivalent readilyeobtainable, light weight, substantially rigid, and easily worked material. Each of the Figure 7 is a stretcher,

elements In and H is relatively long, fiat, narrow in proportion to its length and thin in proportion" to its width, and is tapered from a relatively wider base to a somewhat narrower tip end. Long margins of the'elements l0 and II are preferably straight and said elements are arranged to be assembled with their inner, adjacent long margins parallel and their outer long margins conse quently converging from the base and toward the tip of the assembly. Tip portions of the elements In and II have their outer edge margins curved or inclined inwardly into relatively-sharper convergence to provide a somewhat pointed end adapted to facilitate insertionof the assembly within a pelt, and each of said elements In and II preferably terminates at its tip end in a longitudinally projecting point l2 adapted to engage in a nostril of the pelt, said points I! being closely adjacent when the device is retracted as shown in Figure l and being laterally separated when the device is expanded as shown in Figure 2.

The board elements In and II are maintained in the desired relationship and associated for relative lateral movement in any convenient or desired manner, means suitable for such purpose being illustrated as comprising slats I 3 transversely of and overlying opposite sides of the element wider or butt ends and secured to the element [0, a transversely-disposed slot I4 intersecting the wider end of the element ll between the slats l3, and a pin l5 fixed in and extending between the free ends of the slats l3 in traversing relation with the slot [4, a relatively-deep recess I6 in and opening laterally through the inner margin of the element I I adjacent and spaced somewhat inwardly from the tip end of said ele ment, a U-shaped yoke l1 fixed at its open end in and to the inner margin of the element ID to project laterally from said element and position its closed end for slidable reception within the recess I6, and a pin i8 fixedly engaging through and adjacent the inner marginof the element H to traverse the recess [-6 between the arms of the yoke I1. As will be apparent, the arrangement of means just above described serves to maintain the elements It) and H, in coplanar relation and against longitudinal relative displacement, while permitting limited lateral movement of one of said elements toward and away from the other.

for the application of forces operating to stretch Lateral separation of the elements l0 and H" of the elements l and I l and the shaft portion of said member at the butt end of the stretcher extends freely and slidably between the spaced slats l3 and projects outwardly beyond said slats a considerable distance, while the other .end .of said member shaft portion extends beyond the yoke l1 and is provided with a laterally-opening,

longitudinal slot disposed to accommodate and slidably embrace said yoke so as to permit limited longitudinal reciprocation of the memher l9 ,relative' to said yoke. The tip endof the member 1.9 is expanded or enlarged laterally to form a head 2| whereof the side margins con- -verge, at equal degrees of inclination toward the tipof the'device, to meet in a sharply-acute point on the longitudinal medianline of the assembly, thus providing-a symmetrically-disposed lwedge on the tip-end of said member, and inner side margins wof the elements .10 and H between theposition'of theyoke I1 and element tipends arelnotched and recessed .toconform with .and fit closely about theoutlineof the head 2| when said elements are moved laterally into engagemerit of their inner margin straight portions against .the member !9 shaft margins. Similarly,.-a-n intermediate-portion of the member I9 is extended laterally and marginally contoured to form a symmetrically-disposed second wedge or cam-n22 positioned about half way between the head 2| andthe ,butt end of :thedeviceand presenting-side margins converging toward the tip end ,of the device at substantially the samedegree of inclination as characterizes the converging-,marg-ins -of .the head 2|, and corresponding portions-of the element inner ,margins are shaped to,-accom1nodate wandrfit closely about the wedge ,22 when the elements of the assembly .are in the positionshown in Figure 1.

,As will be clear from the foregoing, the elements ill and H are held in coplanar relation and associatedfor limited relative lateral travel .bymeansofthe slats l3, yoke l1 ,andpins lfiand 18, while the ,member l9 isheld in ,positionbeitween said elements and mounted for limited longitudinal rtravel relative thereto by means of said =slats l3 and yoke I]. In the use of the device, the member 49 .is moved to the limit of its range-of traveltoward the .butt end of the device, whereby .the head .21 and wedge .22 of said member are brought into .full registration with the recesses or notches .formed for their accommodationlin the element inner margins, whereupon the elements 1.0 ,and H maybe approached later- ;ally until their inner margins engage with and against corresponding margins of the member '1 9 land the v.deviceis then retracted to the position ,of felements.shownin Figure 1. With the stretch- .er, retracted to its minimum lateraLdimension, apelt is telescoped over the tip end of the device and drawn therealong until fully extended thereon,.,with the nostrils of the pelt preferably engaged ,by the points [2, whereafter, holding the stretchersubstantially vertical, the projecting end t me member 19 may be tapped against any ,suitable firm object or surface and said member thereby shifted longitudinally of the device and toward the tip end thereof for wedging action of the head 2| and wedge 22 against and for laterally separating effect between the elements [0 and H, such action tending to shift the elements of the device to the relative positions shown in Figure 2 and thereby exert effective stretching tension interiorly of the pelt. The angle of inclination of the wedge or cam surfaces is so selected as to provide that friction between the engaged surfaces will hold the member IS in its shifted position for maintenance of stretching effect upon the pelt, thereby eliminating the necessity for any other means for fixing said member 19 in its shifted position. After the pelt has. dried or cured to the desired extent, the member I9 is reversely shifted to permit the elements 10 and ll to again approach laterally, and the thus-loosened pelt may be slipped freely and=easily over the tip end. and away from the device.

The device thus far described is operable to mount and stretch a pelt and. presents novelty of structure and operative relationship of elements for such purpose, .but the invention .presents additional novelty in the provision of means for the positive circulation of air within and through a pelt stretched on the device, such air circulation serving to facilitate and enhance proper curing and drying of the pelt. Each of the elements [0 and H is intersected by a plu ,rality of relatively-large holes or openings 23 spaced apart inany suitable arrangement to open through the parallel faces of said elements, and the head 2| and wedge 22 of the member 19 .are similarly intersected by correspondingly-disposed holes or openings 24. A .bore or passage .25 formed in the thickness of the element communicates between each of the holes 23 and the space between the element innerlmarginand the adjacentmember I9,.so that when the stretcher is xpanded, as shown in Figure .2, air may pass freely between each of the holes .23 and the channel open between the member 19 and .elements l0 and ll, even though said holes .and channel may be covered by a pelt. To insure that air may circulate longitudinally -of the device and through the channel above mentioned, longitudinal rabbets 26 are formed in the inclined side margins of the head-2l and wedge 22, so that a continuous passage longitudinally of the assembly is provided whenever the member 19 is moved to laterally separate the elements Ill and I I. As is clearly shown in Figure '7, the holes .24 intersecting the head 2| and wedge .22 com municate through suitable bores 21 with the rabbets 26, thereby providing for access of air to all major portions .of a pelt interior during stretchingand drying of such pelt on the device.

Since many changes, variations, and modifications in the specific form, construction, and arrangement of the elements shown and described maybe had without departing from the spirit of my invention, I wish to be understood as being limited solely by the scope of the appended claims, rather than by any details of the illustrative showing and foregoing description.

I claim as my invention:

l. A pelt stretcher comprising a pair of longitudinally-tapered, complementary elements corresponding'ly disposed in coplanar relation with their adjacent inner margins parallel, means fixed to the wider end or oneofsaid ielements'in slidably-embracing relation with the wider end of the other element, a recess in and opening through the inner margin of one of said elements toward the tip end thereof, a yoke fixed at its open end in and projecting laterally from the inner margin of the other element for slidable reception in said recess, a pin fixedly traversing said recess between the arms of said yoke, a straight member slidably supported by said yoke and element-embracing means for longitudinal reciprocation in the plane of and in separating relation between said elements, laterally-extended, uniformly-inclined Wedge blocks in longitudinally-spaced relation on said member, and notches contoured to conform with the outline of said wedge blocks opening through inner margins of said elementsfor accommodation of said wedge blocks when said member is in one position and cooperation with said wedge blocks to laterally separate said elements when said member is shifted toward the narrower ends of the elements.

2. A pelt stretcher comprising a pair of longitudinally-tapered, complementary elements each formed with a narrowed tip portion terminating in a longitudinally-projecting point, means for connecting said elements in laterally-shiftable, longitudinally fixed, coplanar relation, said means comprising a yoke fixed to and extending laterally from a, wider end of one of said elements in slidably-embracing relation with the wider end of the other element, a slot in and elongated laterally of the wider end of said slidably-embraced element between the arms of said yoke, a pin fixedly engaging between the yoke arms in traversing relation with said slot, a recess in and opening through the inner margin of one of said elements toward the narrower end thereof, a second yoke fixed at its open end in and projecting from the inner margin. of the other element for slidable reception within said recess, a pin fixedly traversin said recess between the arms of said second yoke, and a Wedgeequipped member slidably supported by said yokes in the plane of and in separating relation between said elements and shiftable longitudinally for variation in the lateral separation of said elements.

3. In a pelt stretcher having a pair of longitudinally-tapered, coplanar elements correspondingly disposed for limited lateral separation, means for varying the lateral separation of said elements, said means comprising a straight member shiftably associated with, inthe plane of, and for longitudinal relative displacement in spacing relation between parallel adjacent inner margins ofsaid elements and projecting beyond the wider butt ends of the elements, a laterallyexpanded head on the end of said member adja' cent and inwardly of the tip ends of said elements and defined'between uniformly-inclined side margins converging toward the tip ends of the elements, a laterally-expanded block on an intermediate portion of said straight member defined between side margins inclined at the same degree and in the same direction as the head side margins, and notches openin through the opposed inner margins of said elements contoured to correspond with side margins of said head and block and disposed to accommodate said head and block when said member is shifted toward the wider end of the assembly and to coact with said head and block side margins for lateral separation of said elements when said member is shifted toward the narrower end of the assembly.

4. In a pelt stretcher having longitudinallytapered, complementary elements disposed in longitudinally-fixed, laterally-shiftable, coplanar relation and wedge-equipped means in spacing relation between and longitudinally shiftable to laterally separate said elements, means for the circulation of air interiorly of a pelt mounted on the stretcher, said means comprising a plurality of holes opening through said elements and the wedge portions of said separating means, and a passage connecting each of said holes with the channel between the inner margins of said elements.

5. In a pelt stretcher having a pair of coplanar, laterally shiftabl elements and a Wedgeequipped member in spacing relation between and shiftable longitudinally to separate said elements and simultaneously establish an open channel therebetween, means for the circulation of air interiorly of a pelt mounted on the stretcher, said means comprising rabbets longitudinally of and opening through side margins of the wedge portions of the separating member, holes intersecting said wedge portions, passages communicating between said holes and rabbets, a plurality of holes spaced throughout and intersecting the areas of said elements, and passages connecting said latter hole through inner margins of said elements with the channel therebetween;

PHIL]? F. FISHBECK. 

